Feds reject re-hearing on Minisink natural-gas compressor plan

Tuesday

Dec 11, 2012 at 2:00 AM

MINISINK — A federal commission issued another blow to those opposed to a planned $43 million natural-gas compression station, denying a request to re-hear arguments against building the Millennium Pipeline Co. project.

James Nani

MINISINK — A federal commission issued another blow to those opposed to a planned $43 million natural-gas compression station, denying a request to re-hear arguments against building the Millennium Pipeline Co. project.

On Friday, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission issued a 45-page decision denying and dismissing requests for a re-hearing from community members.

But the decision isn't deterring residents, who said they're now free to bring the fight to a federal court of appeals.

Minisink resident Mike Mojica, who along with others filed for the re-hearing, said dissents from the 3-2 decision bolster some of their arguments for denying the request. He said they've been denied due process, despite the decision. "We're liking our case, so far," said Mojica.

For more than a year, some Minisink community members, fighting under the name Minisink Residents for Environmental Preservation and Safety, have opposed the plan to build two 6,130-horsepower compressors and a pair of exhaust stacks 52 feet tall.

They've argued it would hurt nearby home property values and the environment, and isn't appropriate for the rural neighborhood.

Mojica said they'll be asking the court for a total reversal of the order — and if they win that, a deconstruction of the work that was begun on the station in October.

The station would connect to an interstate natural-gas pipeline that extends across southern New York from an interconnection in the west with National Fuel Gas Supply Corporation at Independence, to a connection with Algonquin Gas Transmission at Ramapo.

Millennium spokesman Steve Sullivan said if the weather holds up, the company plans to finish the station by the first quarter of 2013.